Do not adjust you watches…the road to FIFA 2026 World Cup qualification begins on Friday night for UEFA nations.
The Thomas Tuchel era also gets underway at Wembley – as England host Albania – with the Three Lions looking to take their first steps towards North America in just over a years’ time.
Our tipster Feargal Brennan is on Friday evening international duty with five picks as part of a belting accumulator! Also with 5+ leg accas you get your money back if one leg lets you down as part of Paddy’s footy acca betting offer.
Friday’s football tips
7:45pm: Malta v Finland
Under 2.5 goals
7:45pm: Poland v Lithuania
Robert Lewandowski to score
7:45pm: Romania v Bosnia & Herzegovina
Romania to win to nil
7:45pm: Andorra v Latvia
Double Chance: Andorra or Draw
7:45pm: England v Albania
Harry Kane to score
- An accumulator with these bets pays at approximately 18/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
7:45pm: Malta v Finland – Under 2.5 goals
2026 World Cup qualifier at the Ta’ Qali National Stadium, Ta’ Qali
Malta play host Finland in an opening qualifier between two sides who have never reached a World Cup before. However, the gap between their current form looks more like Brazil v Finland!
The hosts have joined the list of smaller countries benefitting from playing closer games in the UEFA Nations League with a current unbeaten run of four games overall as Finland have lost their last six in a row.
I should have faith to back a Malta win, but caution looks a better option here, via under 2.5 goals scored. That has landed in Malta’s last six outings, and Finland have netted just twice, in that six-game losing streak.
7:45pm: Poland v Lithuania – Robert Lewandowski to score
2026 World Cup qualifier at the National Stadium, Warsaw
Poland will be looking to shake off a poor end to 2024 where they picked up just one point from five Nations League games. Head coach Michal Probierz is under pressure to start this qualifying campaign strongly and they should make light work of a Lithuania side who lost all six of their Nations League games at the start of the 2024/25 campaign.
A win bet does represent much value, but Poland captain and talisman Robert Lewandowski will be looking to score his first international goal since September. He is flying with Barcelona of late, with 35 goals in his 40 appearances this season, and a goal would see him overtake Ferenc Puskas as the eighth highest scorer in men’s international football history.
7:45pm: Romania v Bosnia & Herzegovina – Romania to win to nil
2026 World Cup qualifier at the National Arena, Bucharest
Fans of a certain vintage will remember the Romania teams of the 1990s and there is real vibe they are ‘back’ after reaching the last 16 at Euro 2024. A change of manager last summer has turbocharged them with Mircea Lucescu winning all six of his Nations League games in the autumn.
That dominant form is in real contrast to Bosnia & Herzegovina who are winless in their last 12 outings. The home side will relish the chance to get started on qualification, and with just three goals conceded from six, they will be confident of also racking up a clean sheet.
7:45pm: Andorra v Latvia – Andorra win or draw
2026 World Cup qualifier at the Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella
All of a sudden, nobody fancies a tricky trip to Andorra! Well, that’s not quite true…
From their incredible humble beginnings, Andorra have started to make life difficult for fellow minnows on their own stomping ground. Since the start of 2022, they have only lost half of their 14 games at home.
As mad as it sounds, that’s progress! They have only lost once in their last three games overall, and no side has beaten them by more than 1-0 at home in their last four games, that gives them a chance to sneak a win here or maybe a battling draw.
Latvia won just one of their six Nations League games and failed to win at all on the road.
7:45pm: England v Albania – Harry Kane to score
2026 World Cup qualifier at Wembley Stadium, London
Is it coming home? That could be Tuchel’s first post-match question after facing Albania on Friday as he looks to bravely go where Gareth couldn’t and win a title for England in 2026.
It’s unlikely to be easy for England, with Albania becoming seasoned operators in recent years, but an opening home win is a must for Tommy.
The former Chelsea boss confirmed Harry Kane will remain as captain and he will be looking to bring his Bayern Munich form into the England squad. He has 32 club goals already this season, plus seven goals in his last six England appearances at Wembley.
Friday’s football tips
7:45pm: Malta v Finland
Under 2.5 goals
7:45pm: Poland v Lithuania
Robert Lewandowski to score
7:45pm: Romania v Bosnia & Herzegovina
Romania to win to nil
7:45pm: Andorra v Latvia
Double Chance: Andorra or Draw
7:45pm: England v Albania
Harry Kane to score
- An accumulator with these bets pays at approximately 18/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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